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Is It Okay To Drink Protein Shakes On Days I Don't Work Out?
I saw this question on a bodybuilding forum: is it okay to drink protein shakes on days i don't work out? Answer below.
This is a very good question. From the question, I can immediately see that the individual asking it works out. That's half the battle won. But fitness building is not as easy as just exercising. You also have to pay loads of attention to your nutrition and diet. And protein happens to be the primary source of nutrition for all bodybuilders and fitness athletes. Without protein, you will find it hard to build lean, strong muscles.
Most people work out just 3 to 5 times a week. That means in a single week, there will be several rest days. So can one drink protein shakes during these rest days?
The answer is YES! Since muscle growth occurs during recovery periods (i.e. when your muscles are not working out), it is tantamount that you feed your body with ample protein to aid in muscle growth and recovery. I repeat - muscle growth takes place OUTSIDE the gym, not while you are working out. On off days, your muscles are really yearning for high quality protein so that it can grow strong and prepare for the next workout. That is how the body adapts.
The key to success is to make sure your body gets a steady stream of protein throughout the day. Protein can come from protein shakes, protein bars, or from your daily meals. Sit down and work out the amount of protein that you need for the day. Chances are, protein from meals alone won't be enough. That's why you need to drink protein shakes as a dietary supplement. Also, it's just a lot more convenient to consume protein in a drink. No cooking, no hassle...just mix with cold plain milk or water and you are good to go.
That means you may be drinking up to 2 to 3 protein shakes in a single day. If each shake contains around 25 grams of protein, 2 shakes will give you 50 grams of protein.
Don't skip meals or protein shakes and then try to make up for it later in the day. It just doesn't work that way. The body will not be able to absorb all the protein at one go if you dump lots of protein in it in a single shot. That means you can't say you have forgotten to drink your protein shakes during the day and then you try to drink 4 scoops of whey protein at night before you go to bed. If you have forgotten your protein intake, and find that you can't meet your daily protein goals, then let it go and MAKE SURE the same thing doesn't happen again.
Back to the question - not only should you continue to drink protein shakes on days you don't workout, you should also eat well on your recovery days. Go easy on simple carbs and stick to complex carbs, especially those fortified with vitamins.
